Helena Ullgren, President

Helena works as a nurse at Karolinska Comprehensive Cancer Center, Sweden. Apart from clinical work, she has a position as a leader of research and development. She has worked within cancer care since 1995, in different positions, both in- and outpatient care. Helena’s PhD focused on integration and quality of care, and her special interests are symptom management, healthcare systems and patient safety. Since December 2017 she has been a passionate member (later Co-chair) of the EONS Advocacy Working Group. One of the things she is very proud of is the work aiming to improve patient safety across Europe, for instance impacting the EU to develop better safety guidelines for handling hazardous cancer drugs. Helena wants to work to achieve further recognition of cancer nurses and the importance of developing advanced cancer nursing roles.

Wendy McInally, President-Elect

I have built a comprehensive portfolio around children and young people with cancer which covers practice, education, and research. I am a widely recognised cancer nursing specialist and have played leading roles in developing and implementing many best practice initiatives. Currently I work for the Open University (OU) as the Associate Head of Research and Knowledge Exchange. The OU is a public research university and the largest university in the UK for undergraduate education and one of the world’s leading universities. As a previous Macmillan Cancer Nurse (UK charity provider for people living with cancer), I have a deep understanding of the ongoing need for professional education and training to support evidence-based care delivery, along with Research, Knowledge Exchange, and Scholarship.  In supporting healthcare professionals caring for people living with and beyond cancer, I strive to encourage the introduction of innovative education, research, and practice initiatives.

 My own areas of interest over the past few years have been around the experiences of teenagers and young people living with melanoma and their significant other.  I was the first nurse in the UK to secure a TYAC Research grant. I have been a member of the CCLG/TYAC  for over 25 years and the Society of International Oncology of Paediatrics (SIOP), and as such I am ideally placed to collaborate with colleagues from across Europe, continuing to develop cancer research, education and practice initiatives. I have been a member of EONS since 2013. During that time, I successfully secured two leadership scholarships and PhD writing retreat through EONS. I became a member of the EWG in November 2018 and Co- Chair December 2020. In January 2021 I became an Executive Board member of EONS and Led the European College for Cancer Nurses though its development and pilot stage.  I have successfully led the e-sessions for nurses delivered by the European School of Oncology (ESO) since 2018, and serve on the advisory board for ESO, regularly meeting with them to discuss and promote cancer education for nurses and other healthcare professionals. I am also a member for Accredited Council Oncology in Europe (ACOE). 

Merel van Klinken, Board Member and Secretary

Merel van Klinken graduated as a nurse in 2006. She has been working as a registered oncology nurse since 2009. She has about 15 years work expericence in a dutch specialized cancer centre as a palliative care nurse and an oncology nurse.  Currently Merel is woking as a nursing specialist in a cancer rehabilitation centre. She holds an MSc in nursing sciences and is looking to improve the quality of palliative care in her own work setting and in the Netherlands as a whole. She’s passionate about safety for patients and nursing staff and building resilience among young cancer nurses. Merel is a member of the EONS Advocacy Working Group and is a Board Member since February 2021.

Stavroula Chante, Board Member and Treasurer

Stavroula is originally from Greece, and she has been working in the NHS for more than 10 years, which has given her insight into different models of healthcare and made her more adaptable to country specific culture and requirements. She currently works as the Macmillan Lead Cancer Nurse within the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust in the UK, which is a pivotal, strategic role that provides expert knowledge and support and involves the responsibility of improving patient outcomes and experiences by providing strong leadership and implementing changes across the cancer services within the organization. She places great importance on diversity, equality, staff well-being and support in all settings. This means for staff to be equally recognised, valued, respected, heard, able to learn and develop. Few of the projects and strategies that she currently works on are to address and subsequently minimise the health inequalities amongst the cancer patient cohort in the West Midlands region; establish a standardised educational approach for the cancer nursing workforce; address cancer workforce challenges and develop initiatives to assist with retention and job satisfaction; foster a culture of research within the cancer nursing community. 

She also works clinically as Haematology Advanced Clinical Practitioner where she can maintain her clinical skills by assessing, reviewing, and performing procedures for haematology patients. She is also involved with academic responsibilities as Senior Lecturer, Module Leader and dissertation supervisor within Oxford Brookes University, providing teaching on haemato-oncology, chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation. Stavroula is passionate and enthusiastic about empowering the cancer nursing workforce to maximize their potential and ensure that cancer patients receive high quality evidence-based care.  

Dimitrios Protogiros, Board Member

Dimitrios is a cancer nurse and serves as a Scientific Advisor to the Ministry of Health in Greece. He completed his under- and postgraduate studies at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and continuing education in cancer nursing and palliative care in Greece and abroad. Dimitrios has worked in different areas of cancer nursing, such as in clinical practice and as a researcher, and was volunteer in the education of undergraduate nursing students. Since 2020, he has been involved in major national projects of the Hellenic Ministry of Health and his current focus is mainly in the reform of the National Health System, cancer and palliative care and international relations and European affairs. He is member of the National Committee for Palliative Care Development and President at the Board of Directors in the Greek Society for Paediatric Palliative Care. Dimitrios streams of interest focus on health-related issues of sexual and gender minorities with cancer (LGBTQI+); advocacy and policy; leadership in cancer and palliative care; cancer nursing specialty recognition; young professionals’ empowerment. 

Matthias Hellberg-Naegele, Board Member

 Matthias has nearly 30 years of continuous professional experience in oncology and haematology nursing. Since 18 years, he is working as a advanced practice nurse, actually in the Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen in Switzerland. He is specialised in outpatient oncology, cellular therapy and multiple myeloma. He has a bachelor’s degree in nursing pedagogy and a master’s degree in nursing science. For over 10 years, he also worked as a lecturer at several German and Swiss universities. His main topics are patient education, symptom management, advanced nursing practice, and occupational safety with cytotoxic drugs. Matthias is co-chair of the education working group.

Remziye Semerci, Board Member

Remziye works as an Associate Professor at Koç University School of Nursing, Türkiye. She has a clinical background and has worked in various academic and research positions since 2014. Remziye completed her PhD focusing on technology-based symptom management in children with cancer. Her main research interests include pediatric oncology, digital health tools, and nurse-led interventions to improve the quality of life for children and families. She has led several national and international research projects and articles. Remziye is actively engaged in international oncology nursing networks and serves as a steering group member within SIOP. She is a member of the Turkish  Oncology Nursing Society, SIOP Nursing Working Group, European Oncology Nursing Society,  and Turkish Pediatric Oncology Group. She is passionate about integrating evidence-based digital innovations into pediatric nursing and advancing the professional development of oncology nurses through education and research. One of the things she is proud of is developing technology-enhanced educational programs to build sustainable nursing capacity in cancer care.